Atomizer with impinging streams



May 22, 1951 J. E. EVANS momma WITH IMPINGING STREAMS Filed June 20, 1947 2 a a 71X 7 4 9H,.--./, 2 5% 1 x INVEN TOR. rJUIZEJ E. Erazzw BY ATTORNEK Patented May 22, 1951 ATOMIZER WITH IMPINGING STREAMS James E. Evans, Wallingford, Pa., assignor to Houdry Process Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1947, Serial N 0. 756,032

My invention relates to an atomizer and, more particularly, the invention relates to a device of the character stated utilizable for atomizing liquid material which may be supplied thereto either in admixture with vapor phase material or substantially free therefrom as desired.

From a broad aspect, the atomizer of my invention comprises a casing defining at least one' engage each other in head-on relation with resultant production of a stream of atomized material which moves along a path angularly related to the path through said passages or ports.

In a more restricted sense, the aforesaid casing defines a plurality of sets of discharge ports which, as regards the discharge ports forming the respective sets thereof, are related to each other in the manner described above for the production of streams of atomized material. Preferably, although not necessarily, the respective streams of such atomized material pass along paths radiating from a, common point or substantially so.

My invention relates further to an atomizer casing constructed and arranged to maintain a desired quantity or volume ratio between the streams of liquid material traversing the respective discharge ports of each set of such ports. Preferably, in accordance with the invention, substantial equality is maintained between the quantity or volume of the aforesaid streams of liquid material although this relation may be changed in a desired manner as hereinafter described.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the atomizer, features of construction and combinations of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing my novel atomizer;

Fig. 1a. is a diagrammatic view illustrating th atomizer operation; 7

Fig. 1b is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view,

3 Claims. (01. 299-143) '2 partly in elevation, illustrating a modification of the atomizer shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View, partly in plan, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The device of my invention is adapted to atomize any suitable liquid material and, if vapors are mixed therewith, these vapors, likewise, may be of any suitable character. However, a preferred application of my invention involves the charging of hydrocarbon material, either mixed phase material or substantially solely liquid phase material, to my novel device for atomizing purposes as described in my pending application filed of even date herewith Serial No. 756,031, filed June 20, 1947.

Referring to Fig. 1, the atomizer of my invention is shown as comprising a casing which may be formed from separate members I, 2 and 3 secured together in end-to-end relation by welded joints or otherwise as may be suitable. The member I is generally tubular and defines a circular passage in horizontal section. At its upper end, said member I comprises a circular flange la. The member 2 has general frusto-conical configuration, the interior surface thereof being convexly curved as indicated at 2a. and thus forming the outer wall of an intermediate, upstream chamber in communication with pipe or conduit I0, said upstream chamber flaring outwardly at its discharge end. The member 3, in the form of the invention herein shown although not necessarily, comprises horizontal and vertical portions related to each other in right-angular relation, the lower vertical portion being closed by a plate 4 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the horizontal portion of member 3 is a flat annular strip positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the casing and the vertical portion is a ring of substantial width downstream with relation to said strip and positioned concentric with and parallel to the axis of the casing. The horizontal and vertical portions of member 3, together with plate A, comprise a circular terminal portion of the casing.

Disposed interiorly of the member I is a, passage-defining member 5, the upper surface of which may be welded or otherwise suitably secused to a plate 6 which may be secured to the aforesaid flange Ia by bolts I. r The upper interior surface of the member 5, as indicated at 5a, may be defined by a curved surface having parabolic or other suitable configuration thus defining the outer surface of an initial chamber whose sides ardfioncave to the axis of the casing and narrow 3 in a downstream direction. The lower interior surface of said member 5, as indicated at 51), may have conical configuration. Seated upon the plate 4 and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto is a member 8 which may be tubular and which, at its upper end, is closed by a plate 9 secured in suitable manner to said member 8, as by a welded joint, or equivalent. Member 8 and the vertical portion of member 3, together with plate 6, define a terminal annular chamber irr communication with the intermediate outwardly fiaring chamber. The lower exterior surface of the member 8 flares outwardly to some extentas indicated at to. As clearly appears, the longitudinal axis of each of the members and '8 should coincide with the longitudinal axis of the casing defined b the members l, 2 and 3 and, further, the surfaces ta, 5b of member 5 together with the surface 8a of member 8 should be symmetrical with respect to said longitudinal axis.

accordance with the invention, each of the horizontal and vertical portions of the aforesaidmember 3 comprises one or more passages or ports Sahaving suitable configuration. If a plurality of such passages or ports 3a are provided, eachof them may have generally circular or other suitable configuration and they should be spaced apart preferably in uniform relation, the number of these passages or ports being selected so that the atomized mixture is distributed preferably in uniform manner. As hereinafter more particularly described, the passages 3a, in the horizontal portion are alined with respective passages 3a in the vertical portion in straight-line relation or in the sense that each set of alined passages has a common longitudinal axis.

Referring to Fig. l, the aforesaid plate 6 is shown as comprising a central opening adapted to, receive one end of a pipe it through which the charge material for the atomizer passes. The material to be atomized, in any desired proportion of. vapor phase and liquid phase material, such, for example, as a charge having approximately 70% to 99% more or less thereof in the vapor phase is supplied to the pipe l6 from any suitable source ofv supply, not shown, under pressure such, for example, as from 10 lbs. to 200 lbs. per square inch gauge, or which is otherwise adequate to cause the atomized mixture to reach its intended destination. This material passes downwardly through the casing defined by the members I, 2, 3 and then through each set of alined passages 30;. As regards any set of alined passages 3a, streams of the aforesaid material pass, respectively, in opposite directions along substantially a straight-line path as indicated at P, Fig. la, which is related to a horizontal plane by an angle of approximately 45 or otherwise as may be suitable. These streams engage each other in head-on relation in a zone as indicated at a, Fig. la, and, due to such engagement and also due to the presence of the barrier defined by the horizontal and vertical portions of the member 3, there is a resultant stream of atomized material which passes downwardly in an inclined direction along a path having an axis substantially as indicated at Pl, Fig. la, which may be and preferably is related to the path P in approximately rightangle relation. The atomized material, after it leaves the zone a, exists as a mist or fog and, as it moves from the atomizer, there is substantial divergence thereof as regards the axis P 5. With an a rangement of the character described, efiici'entand satisfacto'ryatomization of the liquid material results by reasonof the fact that the aforesaid streams of material for each set of alined passages 3a engage each other in head-on relation as specified and, further, by reason of the deflecting action executed on the material by said horizontal and vertical plate portions of the member 3.

n It will be understood that a corresponding stream of atomized material passes fromeach of the other sets of alined passagesta. Accordingly, in the form of the invention herein shown, although not necessarily, it follows that the respective streams of atomized liquid material pass along paths radiating from a common center which coincideswith the longitudinal axis of the atomizer. Dueto 'the convergence of each stream, all of the streams quickly lose their identity as such and merge or. combine to form a mist or fog wherein the atomized particles are distributed moreor less uniformly, this mist or fog, in diverging relation, moving downwardly along generally a conical path.

The atomizer herein described functions in a highly satisfactory manner to produce a mist or fog of atomized material when mixed phase material is passed thereto-by Way of the pipe ll]. During operation, the mixed phase material passes through the pipe l0 and then traverses the casing definedby the members I, 2 and 3. While passing through the member 5, the curved surface 51; thereof establishes a desired turbulent condition of the mixed phase material so that it does not more axially of the aforesaid casing into direct engagement with the plate 9. By so doing, deposition of liquid material in this area is minimized.

.Themember 8 is provided in order to restrict the path-leading to: the passages 30/. in the vertical. portion of the member 3 so that the width thereof is substantially the same as the width of the path. leading to the passages 3a in the horizontal portion of said member 3. The curved surface 2a ofthe member 2 and the flared surface 8a of the tubular member 8 serve as a refinement for the purpose last noted. When the aforesaidpathshave substantially the same width as. stated, each resultant stream of atomized materialw passes along a path substantially as indicated as-PI, Fig. la, which, asstated, is related to:.the path P approximately in right-angle relation.-

As indicated in Fig. lb, the tubular member 8 maybe so constructed that the width of the path leading to the passages 3a in the vertical portion of the member 3 is substantially less than the width of the path leading to the passages 3a inthe horizontal portionof said memher 3. If so, a greater amount of the material to-be atomized traverses the passages last named and, accordingly, each resultant stream of atomized material passes along a path, for example", as indicated at P2, Fig. 1a., which is more vertical than the path PI. It will be understood that a result the reverse of that described immediately above is obtained if the arrangement is such that the Width of the path leading to "eharg'ed to the atomizer and the atomized liquid material, while being directed downwardly along inclined paths, for example, as indicated at Pl, Fig. la, is engaged with gravitating contact material so that the desired conversion operation may proceed in the presence of said contact material.

The atomizer herein disclosed is adapted particularly for the reception of mixed phase material from the pipe [0. However, in accordance with the invention, the material traversing the pipe I!) may be entirely in the liquid phase or substantially so. If so, it is desirable for the disclosed atomizer to have reduced dimensions and for the members and 8 to be omitted.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefo-re set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, only such limita tions should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an atomizer comprising a casing and a conduit for the passage of liquid communicating with said casing: the combination of a first chamber within the intermediate portion of said casing communicating with said conduit; a second chamber within the terminal portion of said casing communicating with'said first chamber, both of said chambers being concentric with the axis of the housing; a circular terminal shoulder portion of said casing, said shoulder portion comprising a flat annular strip positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the casing, and a ring of substantial width downstream with relation to said strip and positioned concentric with and parallel to the axis of the casing; a plurality of liquid discharge ports in said strip and in said ring, said ports extending from the outside of said casing to said first and to said second chamber respectively, said ports being aligned in pairs in facing relationship so that each port in said strip has a common longitudinal axis with a port in said ring, said common axis being inclined to the axis of the casing at an acute angle.

2 In an atomizer comprising a casing and a conduit for the passage of liquid communicating with said casing: the combination of an upstream chamber within said casing communicating with said conduit, said upstream chamber flaring outwardly at its discharge end, a terminal annular chamber within the terminal portion of said casing communicating with said upstream chamber, both of said chambers being concentric with the axis of the housing; a circular terminal shoulder portion of said casing, said shoulder portion comprising a fiat annular strip positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the casing and a ring of substantial width downstream with relation to said strip and positioned concentric with and parallel to the axis of easing; a plurality of liquid discharge ports in said strip and in said ring, said ports extending from the outside of said casing to said upstream chamber and to said terminal chamber respectively, said ports being arranged in pairs in facing relationship so that each port in said strip has a, common longitudinal axis with a port in said ring, said commonaxis being inclined to the axis of the casing at an acute angle.

3. In an atomizer comprising a casing and a conduit for the passage of liquid communicating with said casing: the combination of an initial chamber whose sides are concave to the axis of the casing and narrow in a downstream direction, said chamber communicating with said conduit; an intermediate chamber within said casing and communicating with said initial chamber, said intermediate chamber flaring outwardly at its discharge end; a terminal annular chamber communicating with said intermediate chamber, all of said chambers being concentric with the axis of the housing; two sets of liquid discharge ports in the terminal portion of said casing, one of said sets of ports communicating with said intermediate chamber and the other with said terminal chamber respectively, said ports being aligned in pairs in facing relationship so that each port in the first set has a common longitudinal axis with a port in the second set, said common axis being inclined to the axis of the casing at an acute angle.

JAMES E. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

